324 niCK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. far more gallinjj than thc galley-chaîn. It was a sight that might hâve movcd the most stony-hearted, but yet therc was no symptom of compassion on the part of those Arab and Portuguesc drivers whom Cameron pronounces ** worse than brutes."* The guard over thc prîsoners was so strict that Dîck Sands fclt it would be utterly useless for him to make any attempt to scck for Mrs. Weldon. She and hcr son had doubtlcss bccn carried off by Negoro, and his heart sank when hc thought of the dangers to which too probably she would be cxposed. Again and again he repeated his re- proachcs on himsclf that he had evcr allowed either Negoro or Harrjs to escapc his hands. Neither Mrs. Weldon nor Jack could cxpcct the Icast assistance from Cousin Benedict; the good man was barely able to consult for himself Ali three of tlicin would, hc conjcctured, be convcycd to some rcmotc district of Angola; thc poor mothcr, like some misér- able slave, would insist upon carrying lier own sick son until her strcngth failcd hcr, and, cxhaustcd by hcr endurances, she sank down hcli)lcss on thc way. A prisoncr, and powcrlcss to hclp! the vcry thought was itsclfa torture to poor Dick. Evcn Dingo was gone! It would have bccn a satisfaction to bave had the dog to send off upon thc track of the lost oncs. One only hope rcmained. Hercules still was frcc. Ail that human strength could attcm])t in Mrs. Wcldon's bchalf, Hercules would not fail to try. Pcrhaps, too, under cover of the night, it was not al- togctlîcr improbable that thc stalwart ncgro woild mingle with the crowd of ncgrocs (amongst whom his dark skin ' Cameron snys, **Iii ordcr to obtain thc fifly womcn of wbom Alvez is thc owuer, tell villages contiiiiiiiig altogcthcr a population of not less than IS<X), were totally dcNtroyed. A few of thc inhabitants contrivcd to escapc, luit thc niajovity oither pcrishcd in the flamcs, werc shiin in defcnding their familics, or werc killcd by hunjjcr or wild bcasts in the jungle Thc crimes which are perpetrated in Africa, by men who call themselves Christians, sccm incrc(bble to the inhabilants of civilized countries. It is impossible that thc govcrnment at TJs]»on can be aware of the atrocities committed by those who boa.st of being subject to her flag." — Tour du Monde. N.L. — Af^'ainst the;>e assertions of Cameron, loud protestations have bcen made in Portugal.
